Go behind the velvet ropes of parties from Chicago and beyond with event news, fashion, celebs and videos for the see-and-be-seen set.

January 5, 2009

HANGIN’ WITH HEF FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE!

Our New Year’s trip to L.A. started off with dinner with our old friends Patti and Jimmy Connors at their favorite restaurant in Brentwood – Toscano’s. It was wonderful! All along Rodeo Drive, loud speakers were playing Christmas tunes and they even had Baccarat chandeliers wrapped in gauze a la Phillippe Starck at every corner. The Beverly Wilshire remains one of the great hotels of the world – especially so now after its gorgeous renovation. With a concierge staff of 14, your every wish is their command. The weather was perfect: 70’s and sunny. Photos: me and Chuck with Patti and Jimmy Connors at Toscano's; me on Rodeo Drive on New Year's.

At the Playboy Mansion, it was a winter wonderland for New Year’s Eve. Everything was white – the massive tent, the ceiling with all of the oversized sparkly snowflakes and even the white carpet covering the grounds – and I can only imagine that the transformation from grounds to party tent must have been very impressive to watch. There were huge screens everywhere showing scenes from past parties. It seemed strange to see Hef watching past parties with different women involved and then to have a whole new set of women by his side but in the Playboy world, time passes quickly and this all seems normal. Security was very tight as usual; I even heard over a radio that there was already a trespasser on the grounds when we arrived. Photos: party decor; a few of the many painted ladies circulating throughout the evening.

There were about 425 revelers – this party is typically one of the smallest – and for the first time, the invitation attire read “black tie and lingerie” instead of “pajamas and lingerie” like in past years. A sign of the times? Growing older? I don’t know but everyone came camera ready! Most of the young girls were all body painted. The artists there must have had a field day! They were truly works of art: one girl was painted in a Santa bikini and even the fur fringe looked real! Two other women came as snowflakes and they had done the paint job themselves! The guest list was varied and included everyone from B-list actors, past and present Playmates, an A-list astronaut, military men, rappers, porn stars, and everything in between. In other words, it was a gawker’s paradise! Earlier in the day, we had driven by the Mansion while roaming around Bel Air and noticed an army of catering trucks and servers’ cars stretching for blocks and blocks near the house. Hef spared no expense and it showed: That evening, he was surrounded by his usual pack of blondes but noticeably absent were Holly and Kendra. Bridget, however, was there with her new boyfriend; they were even invited into Hef’s VIP area with the Shannon twins but no one seemed to pay her much notice – even the cameras, which were usually trained on her in the past passed her by this night. It was sort of sad – kind of like Cinderella after midnight – and I don’t think I would’ve come had I been her. I overheard her tell someone that Hef had asked her to come by for a drink so she did even though she was hesitant to do so. In any event, she stayed too late in my opinion and appeared quite tipsy near the end. Photos: me with some painted ladies; Bridget Marquardt and her boyfriend; one of the Shannon twins (in bunny ears) dances on stage; the twin theme is definitely "in" now.

The food was plentiful – sushi, all types of seafood, multiple carving stations, sweet tables, cheeses – you name it, they had it. Even the bartenders were terrific—just like in the movie “Cocktail,” they were flipping bottles behind their backs and generally wowing the women. The cast of characters included astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his wife Lois (who speaks seven languages), Andrew Dice Clay, Julie Newmar, Kato Kaelin, Jimmy Kimmel, Jose Canseco, Bill Maher, Willie Gault, Martin Landau, Steve Guttenberg, Jon Lovitz and Jeffrey Ross (the A-list celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio prefer the Halloween party where they can come in costume and no one can recognize them; in fact, he’s been to the last few Halloween parties with his posse in giant oversized masks). Patti and Jimmy Connor’s daughter, Aubree, was there and looking more and more gorgeous just like her mother. She has that same auburn mane of hair and is 5’8” and stunning. The crowd seemed older and more subdued than in year’s past but as it got closer to midnight and the music got ramped up, it became the Playboy party we all know, love and read about. Photos: me with Buzz Aldrin and his wife Lois; Jon Lovitz and guest; me with Kato Kaelin and a friend; Aubree Connors and David Aminzadeh.

The twins were all over Hef and he seemed to be enjoying himself. When I asked him what his New Year’s resolution was, he said “to do more of the same!” He looked very dapper in his tux but older since the last time I saw him; he seemed deaf in one ear which may have been a blessing when the rapper Baby Bash performed. Although, the crowd seemed to love him, the music wasn’t my taste but the DJ who played after him was fantastic and kept the dance floor packed to the very end. When the thousands of white balloons were dropped at midnight, the crowd went wild. It was so exciting for a couple of girls that I saw them carried out on stretchers. In the infamous grotto, a man had to have the paddles put on him and he, too, was taken away on a stretcher. Photos: Baby Bash performs as the Shannon twins dance in the background; welcoming in 2009 with thousands of white balloons and a heartfelt kiss.

There were playmates from every era and from all over the country. Dolores Del Monte was Playboy’s fourth Playmate (March 1954). She was a professional pinup model whose photo – like the famous Marilyn Monroe nude – was purchased from the John Baumgarth Calendar Company of Melrose Park, Illinois for $50. Cathy St. George was there – she was Playmate for August 1982 and still looks terrific – as was October 1985 Playmate Cynthia Brimhall (this issue was called “The Collector’s Edition” since it was the first perfect bound copy). She looks even better now than she did in her centerfold! It was fun to see all of the past Playmates and to observe the new ones. No one throws a party like Playboy and I’m always thrilled to get invited. (One of the Playmates even sold her invitation on eBay for $400 – more proof that the Playboy mystique never seems to die.) Photos: me with Dolores Del Monte; Chuck and Cynthia Brimhall.

Hef’s right-hand woman Mary O’Connor was there, too. She knows everyone and everything about Hef and Playboy and I don’t know what Hef would do without her! She takes no prisoners but is still a fantastic and likeable woman. I’ve been fortunate to know her for 35 years – ever since I moved into the Chicago Mansion in 1974 as a bunny from St. Louis. Photo: me with Mary O'Connor.

Just as our trip began with old friends, it ended the same way. On our final night, we went to dinner at Mr. Chow’s with Tissy Eggleston and John Kennington to celebrate her New Year’s Day birthday. Tissy was a bridesmaid at my wedding 19 years ago and I’m sure we will always be friends. Flying back to Chicago the next evening with all of the beautiful lights of the city below made me realize, as we all know, “there’s no place like home.” Photo: Tissy Eggleston. For more photos from this fantastic event, click HERE.

I hope you all have a healthy and happy 2009! And if you enjoy reading my blog, please click here and nominate CandidCandace as one of Chicago's Best Blogs. Thanks for stopping by!